66' FJ 40 questions, might be a little long

[Capgun]

I'll make it as short as I can. I bought a 66' fj40 last week. It sat for over 6 years, didn't fire when I bought it. Towed it to a shop that I trust but knows very little about them. They got it running. I picked it up, drove it home, got to my street which is uphill, and the clutch cable snapped, and some anti-freeze came out too.

It was running at about 2300 rpm idle, because the throttle cable is not able to come all the way back, due to wear and a mickey mouse setup to carb. It's been converted to a weber carb btw.

There are some parts missing, but at least it would run, drive shift, and stop. All the parts are worn, but the motor is stong, shifted solid, good clutch, and the brakes worked well.

It's missing linkage from the transfer case to where it connects to the vaccum handle. So it has the inside, and top part in the engine compartment, but no lower. It seemed to be in high range on my drive home, as I was able to do about 40 or so but it squeeked and rattled pretty hard at that speed. Rpm's were about 4000 or little over. does that sound normal? It was in 3rd.

If the clutch cable snapped, would'nt I just be able to turn the motor off, jam it into first, and fire it while in gear, to creap it the rest of the way home? With the motor off I put it into 1st, started it, and it was still in neutral. Same procedure with the rest of the gears yielded the same result. What could be the problem? Did I fry the tranny?

BTW the guy at the shop said he used a pair of vice grips on transfer case notch that's missing linkage to get in it into what he believed was high range. I know the hubs are free.

Anyway, cruiser will not drive, fire's right up, what the heck should I do now?

Sorry, this just happened like 20 minutes ago, so my mind is all over the place atm. I just know so little about them.

 

[In2cruisers]

Clutch Cable? Is this a landcruiser motorcycle? Not sure what kind of set-up you have...but most cruisers dont have clutch cables....its a master cylinder / slave set-up....hydraulic...you may have ruptured a line or blown out the slave piston.. either way there should be a puddle somewhere if thats the case. Or you may just be out of fluid/fluid contamination or just a bleed....After 6 yrs alot could have happened sure alot of rubber has dried out....ALL fluids should be be replaced...

AND DONT TRUST YOUR BRAKES (on a 66 its a single system...and all you need is one of you brake seals to have dried out and you'll have 0 brakes) (ask me how I know?)

I think maybe your transfer case is in neutral............

 

[Capgun]

See that's how little I know. So no clutch cable?

 

[Capgun]

There is no pressure on the clutch now when there was before. So fried clutch? You have to bare with me, I'm newer than new here.

 

[wesintl]

or you fried the master cyl. you push the brake and the fluid goes past the plunger and nothin works. you can rock it and jam it in gear. there's a sweet spot you can find to shift it.

 

[Capgun]

I'm confused. The brake pressure is fine. The clutch is where it feels like nothing. I'm thinking now, to when I was trurning the corner onto my street. I pushed the clutch in while turning, downshifted it into 1st, then when I let out the clutch, there was no pressure, it puked out some fluid (brother following me close in his car home said that part) and nothing. No gear, like it was in neutral. Sounds like you guys are getting me closer, TY, please continue...

 

[Cruiser_Nerd]

Disregard the clutch for now, yeah there is a problem with the hydraulic, but you are right, it should still move.

If you have a tach and you were 4,000 @ 40 you were in low range.

If the transfer linkage was dummied up, it may have slipped into neutral.

 

[skidplate]

The clutch hydraulic system also uses brake fluid to function. The clutch master cylinder is located on the firewall near the brake master cylinder. Fluid should be about 1/2'' from top. Use the search function on this site, there will be pics and tons of info. Also 4000 rpms is about twice what you should be running at 40 mph. Since your mechanic has no idea if your transfere case is in 2 or 4wd and your linkage is haywire it could have slipped in to neutral. Again use the search function. Hope you made it home ok and welcome! I'm sure more helpful info is on the way.

 

[Capgun]

IN2, TYVM, something else I'll look into tomarrow, as it's night now, but I will check the fluid reservoirs, and see if I can trace the lines a bit. One more thing I forgot to add. After I lost the clutch pressure, and it puked the fluid, I was able to coast it back down a little to the curb. I stopped the motor. I engaged and dis-engaged the clutch a few times, brother said it would spew out a bit of fluid when doing this, but stopped if I left it alone.

I thought clutch cable immediately for 2 reasons. An old 70 something CJ7 I used to have, used a clutch cable, and being a aircooled VW enthusiast, and having had several, they all had clutch cables. Snapped and replaced those several times. So, thinking as this FJ is old, I assumed it was a cable. LOL.

PS, I would like to know how you know about the single cyl. brake system. Sounds like quite a story, and I'm glad you're still around to tell it.

 

[Capgun]

TY too Cruiser and Skid! FYI I should have said also, I'm guessing on the RPM's totally. No aftermarket tach, just used to the sound enough to where I can make a relatively educated guess. In fact, none of the guages work except the voltage seems to, and the aftermarket oil pressure gauge, which was fixed by the mechanic. So I can't tell the darn temp, speed, nothing. The turn signals work, but brake lights don't. Going through all fuses tomarrow. Even creepier, the miles are all at 000000. Can someone say Christine? Someone will get that refference. Great movie.

I'm afraid to touch anything on the vehicle now, as I think I may brak something else.

 

[skidplate]

LOL! My first several vehicles were VW's I hear you on clutch cables. Vw's left me stranded by every mechanical malfunction known to motor vehicles! Thats where I learned my limited knowledge of mechanics.

 

[Capgun]

Then I understand you're pain there, LOL. If this were just another VW I picked up, I would know what it was that broke, fixed it, and ben on my way. LOL When buying old VW's and driving them home, I always carry a small metric combination wrench and wratchet set, along with both a throttle and clutch cable.

Fixed a throttle cable on an old 69' Karmann Ghia I had once, with a safety pin. I had temporarily stranded me at an ex-girlfriends house. Wow, long time ago on that one. Memories......

 

[Capgun]

Well I will come here tomarrow and will probably have a little more info, or questions, TY guys

 

[In2cruisers]

OK, your clutch master will be the closest to the driver on firewall, follow the line down. If your spewing fluid that is one problem either ruptured line or blown slave. But if you can get it in gear with the key off and doesnt move when you start it....I bet your transfer case has worked its self into Neutral possition. And because if you were pulling 4k at 40 mph you were in Low range

------> AND take heed of my brake warning <-----

 

[In2cruisers]

PS, I would like to know how you know about the single cyl. brake system. Sounds like quite a story, and I'm glad you're still around to tell it.

I purchased my 1966 fj45 and had it shipped from Or. The car hauler pulled it off the trailer...and she ran like cr@p...(knew she barely ran when purchasd). Worked on her for a couple days and got her running pretty well, drove her around front (we live in a hilly/canyon area) a neighbor stopped me out front and was doting over my new babe.....all while standing on the brakes....started down the hill...and braked lightly.........TO THE FLOOR !!!! While I talked she bled out the passengers rear cylinder ......down the hill...thru a cross street down another hill and luckly the hill goes back up.....came to a stop......once I stopped shaking...I nursed her home....parked her, grabbed a set of wire cutters....and cut the brake lines in three or four places......making myself replace rather than repair

 

[wesintl]

sounds like some work ahead.. you need to skip all that first and post PICS!

 

[In2cruisers]

sounds like some work ahead.. you need to skip all that first and post PICS!

I assume your talking to Capgun...................Yes pics please...and location is also good..some of us are known to lend a hand...if asked and have (lol)

 

[Capgun]

WOW IN2, I'm picturing that whole scene in my head. Very scary, glad your still here.

Okay, my brother and I went down the street to look at it today, and you guys are correct. The clutch master cyl. is bone dry now. I took a picture of where I believe it puked out of. I don't really know what it's called, but the boot looking thing seemed to have popped off? Well the pictures will help you on that.

I've also added some pictures of what's in the back? Anyone know what those 3 bracket looking things with cables attached are? Might not have anything to do with the cruiser, as there's glass in there too, that was from the previous owner's business.

I was thinking about what you guys said, pertaining to the transfer case possibly being jarred into neutral. Since I'm missing the bottom part of the linkage to the transfer case, wouldn't it be impossible to get it popped into neutral, just by shifting the tranny?

As for the helping hand, I would welcome it from anyone, and of course pay you. IN2, I live in Reno, so it would be a bit too far, LOL, plane ticket, you can stay at my house, room and provisions provided, heh heh. You seem very cool.

 

[Capgun]

More pics...

 

[Maui Cruiser]

You're gonna want to flip your bezel, and welcome to MUD!

I've always wanted to say both these things, seriously, have fun with it.